FY27 PPSM ATB Program

Dear Colleagues,

We're happy to confirm that, starting June 21, 2026, for biweekly paid employees and July 1 for monthly paid employees, all eligible Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM) covered Berkeley staff members can look forward to an across-the-board 4 percent salary increase. This general salary increase program for the 2026–27 period is intended for our policy-covered staff employees. The biweekly paid employees will see their increase on the end-of-July 2026 check issue date, which is also expected to include retroactive pay. Monthly paid employees will see their increase in the August 2026 paycheck.

In addition to the across-the-board increase, UC Berkeley will create an equity pool of $5 million for salary adjustments focused on our employees with the lowest salaries and salary compression issues. The parameters for the use of this fund will be developed and communicated in the fall for implementation in January 2027.

Please note that staff employees who are represented by unions are not included in this program, as their wages are determined through collective bargaining agreements. 

While this year's salary increase isn't linked to individual merit, the value of ongoing performance reviews remains. All policy-covered staff are part of the Achieve Together performance program and can expect to continue receiving, at least annually, a performance evaluation in line with our policies. Please note that employees will be excluded from the across-the-board salary increase program if in Achieve Together:

  • They receive three (3) or more "Needs Attention" in any of the five Achievement Criteria; OR,

  • They receive "Needs Attention" for BOTH the Job Mastery and Goal Accomplishment criteria, even if all other criteria are Well Done or Stand Out

Please refer to our Achieve Together website for information on the Achievement Criteria and the related Performance Levels. Achieve Together Performance Levels were due in the online form by May 29, 2026.

Other Eligibility Criteria for Across-the-Board Salary Increase:

  1. Career and contract appointment positions: Individuals appointed to career or partial-year career, and contract appointment positions in grades 15–31 covered by PPSM policy on or before January 5, 2026, are eligible regardless of funding source.

  2. Contract positions: the department will need to (a) provide funding for those who will receive an increase, and (b) update the contract with the new salary amount.

  3. Individuals (a) must be appointed to a PPSM position on or before January 5, 2026, (b) must be in a PPSM position on July 1, 2026, and (c) must remain on the payroll in an eligible position and appointment on the date that the pay increase is paid.

  4. Employees whose new salary will exceed the salary range maximum will receive an increase that is capped at the salary range maximum.

  5. Excluded employees:

    1. Individuals who were hired after January 5, 2026;

    2. Individuals whose current salary exceeds the new salary range maximum;

    3. Individuals who separate from employment on or before the payout date;

    4. Rehired retirees;

    5. Athletic positions covered by contracts that contain performance bonuses; and,

    6. Limited employees and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.  

Questions can be directed to scottd3@berkeley.edu

Thanks,Eugene & Scott

Eugene Whitlock, Chief People & Culture OfficerScott Dinkelspiel, Director, Compensation